Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
17 June 2020
|
Story Dr WP Wahl
The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) prioritises innovation to meet the challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition among students. To this end, several student volunteers and student governance structures are collaborating with the DSA on various initiatives.
During 2019, various conversations were held about the possibility of creating a health-promoting food environment at the UFS where students and staff are well informed and empowered to take appropriate action regarding their food and nutritional needs. These conversations resulted in an institutional strategy to address the food environment at the UFS. Student representatives serve on a technical committee that directs the implementation of this strategy. In this regard, several initiatives have already been launched.
Students from residences and other student communities have planted vegetable gardens on the Bloemfontein Campus with the assistance of KovsieACT and the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Students and staff are already harvesting and distributing vegetables to needy students every week. Measurements were put in place to continue this during the COVID-19 period. The following vegetables were planted: spinach, cabbage, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.
Food parcels, donated by Tiger Brands and Gift of the Givers, are continuously handed out by DSA staff and student volunteers. In this regard, 540 food parcels have already been handed out on the Bloemfontein Campus during the COVID-19 period alone. During the same time, 117 students received food parcels on the Qwaqwa Campus. The innovation of this food parcel project rests on the fact that business, NPOs, UFS students, and DSA staff are collaborating to address food insecurity and malnutrition.
More collaborative initiatives will be implemented over the next 12 months. The DSA staff and students are already working with the Department of Dietetics and Consumer Sciences to create information packages about the preparation of low-budget nutritious meals.
Related article:
Vegetable tunnels established to continue the fight against food insecurity
First-years – find your answers here
2014-01-24
Everything you need to know as a first-year student: first-years 2014
The University of the Free State designs and creates an optimal environment where you can enjoy a vibrant and full student life and learning experience. Academic excellence is a top priority for us all, but we support your learning process by providing you with opportunities for leadership development and community service, as well as for cultural, sport and social activities.
We want you to lead a balanced life in becoming an ethical, assertive and well-educated leader. It is not enough that you are skilled to do your work; you should also stand out among your peers as a leader who has the confidence, courage and compassion to lead followers in the community or in the workplace.
A student of the University of the Free State is called a Kovsie, and you study at Kovsies. This affectionate name reflects the long history of our institution when it started more than 100 years ago. We have created many proud traditions over these many years, and one of them is that we treat our students well.
With these words: Welcome to Kovsies!
Rudi Buys
Dean: Student Affairs